Micke Grove Zoo comes alive with sights of the holidays

Friday

Dec 7, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Micke Grove Zoo is twinking for the holidays with its annual Zoolights.

Jo Ann Kirby

Micke Grove Zoo is twinking for the holidays with its annual Zoolights.

"There are animal silhouette lights and then there are strands of lights all throughout the zoo," Allison Meador, education curator at the zoo, said of the annual fundraiser put on by the zoological society to benefit education programs.

While visitors might see a few resident animals up and about enjoying enrichment activities, don't count on it. Mostly it's a chance to see Santa, enjoy the lights, participate in an arts and crafts activity, enjoy hot cocoa, munch on cookies and listen to live music.

"This year, we did something different. We are having live music for pretty much the whole evening," Meador said.

Tonight, a band called the Blues Brothers will be performing. On Saturday, Kinda Blue is scheduled to entertain.

Diane Johnson, a mother of 1-year-old Ethan and 4-year-old Emma, said Zoolights is the place she goes for her kids to have their first picture taken with Santa. And that picture with St. Nick is included in the price of admission.

"I'm excited that Emma's a little older and can participate in more of the crafts this year," she said.

The event is also a chance to help out the needy. Canned food and unwrapped toys are being collected for two local nonprofits.